W.C. Lindsay- Hard Youth, Hardly YouReview by Jen Windland

W. C. Lindsay is not what I was expecting when I started to listen to their album Hard Youth, Hardly You, released earlier this year. I guess my idea of electro-pop was off a smidge. But halfway through the first track 'Folklore and Tall Tales' I found myself bopping along and eventually dancing like a nerd in my seat. Thank God no one was around to see. By the time I got to track number two 'Just Keep Moving' I was trying to pick apart the different parts of the music itself and was pleasantly surprised to find that it again did not meet my predetermined expectations. The lyrics themselves are cute-sy and fun while the music is easy, happy-go-lucky and complementary to the lyrics. 'Rita Hayworth', track four, was my favorite on the first listen through the seven-song album. I think it was the lyrics that got me; very relatable. The song after that serves no real purpose, titled 'Interlude' and is just what it sounds like - tracks like that always get skipped on my iPod; it does nothing for me. 'Megaphone Man' was a little heavier than the rest of the album so far and almost made up for the weird two-minute-seven-second 'Interlude', for me at least. Track six, 'The Narrow Road to the Deep North' is a little mellower than its predecessors and took the spot of best track for me after a few listens. The lyrics - throughout the album - have been easy to relate to, simple but meaningful, in a positive way. The album's namesake though, didn't tickle my fancy. 'Hard Youth, Hardly You' is interestingly titled but the beginning of the song is too computerized and a little annoying with the staccato piano/keyboard thrown in. Despite my distaste of tracks four and seven I'd still actually pay money for this album and I know I'll be keeping an eye on W. C. Lindsay (but they had me hooked when they spelled 'Lindsay' correctly).